What is it about Stoke Newington? Turn any corner and you bump into yet another creative, exotic character with an interesting story to tell. Emily Ovenden is a case in point.

Emily, Stoke Newington resident and manager at the new Abney Public Hall, is a determined and multitalented woman. Born into an artistically celebrated family - the daughter of two of the founders of the Ruralist School of painting, Graham and Annie Ovenden - she grew up on the edge of Cornwall's Bodmin Moor, an environment to stir and excite the young Gothic imagination.

Ever interested in poetry, storytelling and music, Emily had an unconventional schooling and she ended up moving to London in 1996. Two years ago she joined the internationally renowned Mediaeval Baebes - 'the ultimate band in the pagan world' - as singer and recorder/concertina player. The Baebes got together as a result of an extended drinking session in Tufnell Park and performed their first gig eight years ago when they broke into Abney Park Cemetery and sang outside the derelict chapel to an audience of enraptured local Goths. They received their first record contract shortly after and their fifth album is to be released in February next year.

Emily's first appearance with the Baebes was in Vancouver to where the band was invited by the local Vampire Society. As well as suffering from jetlag from her first long-haul flight - and no doubt firstnight nerves - she had to wear special vampire teeth for the performance, hardly ideal for the intricacies of plainsong.

However, she is now a regular member of the eight-strong, all-female group and has a busy schedule at such events as the Joust Festival at Berkeley Castle, the Croydon Witchfest and other festivals across the world. She also performed at the recent N16 Fringe Martin Carthy evening alongside fellow Baebe Katharine Blake, having previously strolled up the High Street in full mediaeval costume, glass in hand, bringing the traffic to a standstill.

An accomplished musician, Emily is also an aspiring novelist. Her first book - Vulpes Vulpes (illustrated by her mother) - was recently published by Aznet Publishing in both limited and book trade editions. She has now written another book - The Ice Room - a ghost story, which she describes as 'Edgar Allen Poe meets Jackie Collins', and which to date has yet to find a publisher.

Having read the book, and having spent twenty-five years in book publishing, I find this difficult to understand but, as one of my colleagues was among the many publishers who rejected Watership Down ('who wants to read about rabbits?'), there is much evidence that publishing and commercial nous do not always easily co-exist. So, any of you publishers out there looking for new talent, contact Emily through www.emilyovenden.co.uk .

In the meanwhile, she continues with her work at Abney Public Hall, juggling the weddings, martial arts courses and concerts with aplomb and efficiency. Emily's ability to blend seamlessly the mundane and the surreal is an example to us all.
For more information on the Baebes, visit www.mediaevalbaebes.com